Longitudinally collapsible flat umbrella

ABSTRACT

A telescopically collapsible umbrella producing a generally flat, rectangular package when collapsed, in which a crownpiece, runners and handle generally define the collapsed rectangular shape, and in which an improved handle and runner include cooperating recesses and orienting portions positively insuring orientation of the umbrella runner carrying stretcher ribs and camming portions orienting dome rib tips to insure proper operation of the umbrella during erection and collapse.

United States Patent Bremshey Feb. 8, 1972 [54] LONGITUDINALLY COLLAPSIBLE FLAT UMBRELLA Fritz Brenshey, Solingen-Ohligs, Germany [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: May 19, 1969 [211 App]. No.1 825,824

[] Foreign Application Priority Data May 24, I968 Germany ..P 17 57 603.3

[52] US. Cl ..l/25, 135/44 [51] Int. Cl .Ab 19/06, A45b 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..135/20, 25, 26, 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,784 5/1933 Adler 135 25 3,431,925 3/1969 Kraft ..135/25 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 483,216 2/1970 Switzerland ..l35/44 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney-Alan Swabey [57] ABSTRACT A telescopically collapsible umbrella producing a generally flat, rectangular package when collapsed. in which a crownpiece, runners and handle generally define the collapsed rectangular shape, and in which an improved handle and runner include cooperating recesses and orienting portions positively insuring orientation of the umbrella runner carrying stretcher ribs and camming portions orienting dome rib tips to insureproper operation of the umbrella during erection and collapse.

1 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures LONGITUDIN ALLY COLLAPSIBLE FLAT UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF INVENTION I 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to longitudinally collapsible umbrellas having a flat cross section generally defined by a crown, runner and handle when the umbrella is collapsed, and more particularly to improvements in the handle and runner insuring positive, proper and consistent operation when opening" or closing the umbrella.

2. Problem in the Prior Art Umbrellas of this general character in the past did not insure to any great degree of certainty, that the free ends of the dome ribs were properly oriented relative to the handle. On the contrary, the ends of the dome ribs apparently continually jarnbed relative to the handle or runner causing inoperativeness, damage to the umbrella canopy, and general dissatisfaction. Further, in conventional designs, the runner-locking device could not be located on the handle and considerable technical problems are encountered when attempting to incorporate locking devices on telescoping sections of an umbrella'stick, of this type of collapsible umbrella.

General Object of the Invention Primary objects of the invention are:

to provide in a collapsible umbrella of the character set forth in which a guide sleeve of a stretcher rib supporting runner cooperates with a handle to insure proper opening and closing of the umbrella as well as providing means for properly orienting the dome rib tips in a stored position in the handle and insuring that all parts cooperate and function in the manner they were designed;

to provide a unique shape to a runner sleeve and handle recess for positively orienting the cooperating parts and preventing relative movement when engaged;

to provide camming portions on the exterior of the handle for orienting the dome rib tips to a stored position;

to provide a relatively large handle which does not interfere with the production of a relatively compact package when the umbrella is collapsed.

These together with other objects and the nature and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description of an exemplary embodiment when taken with the drawing forming a part thereof, in which: I

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an umbrella collapsed and disposed in a rectangular carrying case;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the umbrella collapsed and removed from the carrying case;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 with the canopy material removed from the ribs to illustrate details;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the umbrella handle of FIG. 3, showing cooperating parts of the umbrella runner and dome rib tips by means of phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the handle looking from right to left at FIG. 4 and showing by phantom lines the general attitude of the runner wings;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 3 showing how the umbrella stick is assembled;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section on the plane of line 7'7 of FIG. 4 showing details of a carrying strap; and

FIG. 8 is a view looking into an erected umbrella incorporating the improvements.

Detailed Description of an Exemplary Embodiment First referring to FIG. 8, an umbrella includes a central sup port stick 1 which includes progressively graduated telescopic sections 2, 3 and 4 retained in an extended condition by suitable locks or displaceable detents 5; the sections are graduated to be received in section 2 when the umbrella is collapsed.

Secured to the upper end of section 2 is a generally rectangular crown 6 having opposed narrow ends or wings 7 and 8 to which a set of four collapsible dome ribs 9 are hingedly connected, in the conventional eight-rib umbrella. I-Iingedly connected at 11 to intermediate portions of ribs 9 are stretcher ribs 10, and the inner ends of the stretcher ribs 10 are pivotally connected to a generally T-shaped runner 12 which is reciprocably supported on stick 1 for movement between the crown 6 anda handle 19. Reciprocable on the stick above runner 12 is an auxiliary runner 36, having a similar configuration as runner l2, and having diametrically opposed wings 38 and 39 to which auxiliary stretchers 37 are pivoted; the later also being pivoted interrnediately to ribs 10.

The runner 12 has a generally flat shape i.e., that assumed by the umbrella when it is collapsed and includes a lower guide sleeve 12' having a generally elliptical shape as seen in FIG. 4; as a practical-matter, the guide sleeve 12 is generally octagonal. The left-hand side 12" of the sleeve 12 projects laterally a greater distance at 13' than corresponding opposite sides 13, and surfaces 13 and 13' are angularly related to provide stabilizing edges or ribs in the cooperating handle portions to be described, and a groove or recess 14 in the runner accommodates a runner lock element 15.

The runner 12 includes above the sleeve 12 diametrically opposed wings 16 and 17 to which the inner ends of stretcher ribs 10 are connected. The handle 19 includes an upwardly opening well or recess 18, the inner surfaces 18' of which being generally elliptical and which are engaged by the edges of the sleeve 12' to orient the runner 12.

The handle 19 includes walls 20 forming the well 18 and the wall tapers upwardly, the outer side surface of the handle having upwardly diverging end surfaces 20 and generally triangular sides 21 joined to angular facets 22; the later comprises camming surfaces to aid in orienting the dome rib tips 9' to a proper position when the umbrella is being closed and collapsed; the tips 9' will rest on the base 23 of the handle.

As seen in FIG. 5, the sidewall portions 21 project beyond the upper edge of walls 20 and provide a transverse groove and arcuate orienting surfaces 24 through which wings 16 and 17 project; see FIGS. 3-5; note notch 25 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The runner 12 will cover well or recess 18 when the umbrella is collapsed and when the dome rib tips 9' are grouped they cannot enter and jamb the well 18. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the groups of four ribs 9 will engage edge portions 16' and 17 of the respective runner wings, and surfaces 16" and 17" provide sufficient space for storage of the ribs within the area or perimeter of the handle base 23. As the umbrella is being closed i.e., after sleeve 12 has entered well 18, if dome rib tips 9' engage surfaces 22, they are cammed or deflected toward the ends 16' and 17' of the runner wings. Additionally, as seen in FIG. 2, after the umbrella is collapsed, the canopy securing strap 26 will engage and orient the rib tips toward the ends of wings 16 and 17 of the runner 12. Likewise, the rectangular carrying case 27 will aid in maintaining and protect the rib tips; see FIG. 1.

The handle 19, as seen in FIG. 7, includes slots 28 through which the terminal ends 30 of a flexible carrying strap 29 are threaded, the ends 30 comprising metal plates or tips engaging shoulders 31 formed by the slots 28.

The handle 19 also includes; see FIG. 6, a central pin 32 centrally of recess or well 18, and the lower end of stick section 4 is received on pin 32 and is embraced by an outer sleeve 33; note the handle is recessed about pin 32 to snugly receive the overlying ends of elements 4 and 33. When the umbrella is collapsed, the lower end of sleeve 12' of the runner l2 telescopes onto sleeve 33. A transverse bore extends through opposite handle side P rtions 21; at the base 23, and also extends diarnetrically through the sleeve 33, stick section 4 and pin 32, and a lock pin 35 stakes these elements in assembled relation.

Iclairn:

I. A longitudinally collapsible umbrella comprising a collapsible stick, a crownpiece at one end of the stick, a runner reciprocably supported on said stick, a handle on said stick opposite said crownpiece, a canopy connected to said crownpiece, dome ribs connected to said crownpiece, stretcher ribs hingedly connected between said dome ribs and said runner whereby a generally rectangular fiat package is provided when the umbrella is collapsed and folded to a stored condition, the improvement characterized in that runner is generally T-shaped in side elevation and includes a rectangular head in top plan,

said runner head including diametrically opposed wings to which said stretcher ribs are pivotally connected and an asymmetrical sleeve depending between said wings, said runner having a manually operable latch extending laterally from said depending sleeve beneath one of said wings, said handle having an inverted T-shaped elevation including an integral stem having an upwardly opening well having a generally elliptical cross section telescopically receiving the depending sleeve of said runner, said sleeve having a cross section substantially conforming to the elliptical cross section of said well for preventing relative rotation between said handle and runner,

said sleeve latch and sleeve substantially filling said well thereby preventing said dome rib tips from entering said well when the umbrella is collapsed,

the well and depending sleeve having major axes aligned and extending in a direction common with the runner wings for assisting in defining the rectangular configuration of the collapsed umbrella, said handle having base portions laterally of said stem for receiving dome rib tips thereat,

said stem having a polyangular outer surface including laterally converging angular facets for camming the dome rib tips toward said base portions,

said well being polygonal in outer cross section and including transverse end walls having upper edges upon which said runner wings rest, opposed sides extending above said transverse end walls in an arc originating from said end walls and defining a transverse notch through which said wings will project with arcuate margins diverging therefrom. 

1. A longitudinally collapsible umbrella comprising a collapsible stick, a crownpiece at one end of the stick, a runner reciprocably supported on said stick, a handle on said stick opposite said crownpiece, a canopy connected to said crownpiece, dome ribs connected to said crownpiece, stretcher ribs hingedly connected between said dome ribs and said runner whereby a generally rectangular flat package is provided when the umbrella is collapsed and folded to a stored condition, the improvement characterized in that runner is generally T-shaped in side elevation and includes a rectangular head in top plan, said runner head including diametrically opposed wings to which said stretcher ribs are pivotally connected and an asymmetrical sleeve depending between said wings, said runner having a manually operable latch extending laterally from said depending sleeve beneath one of said wings, said handle having an inverted T-shaped elevation including an integral stem having an upwardly opening well having a generally elliptical cross section telescopically receiving the depending sleeve of said runner, said sleeve having a cross section substantially conforming to the elliptical cross section of said well for preventing relative rotation between said handle and runner, said sleeve latch and sleeve substantially filling said well thereby preventing said dome rib tips from entering said well when the umbrella is collapsed, the well and depending sleeve having major axes aligned and extending in a direction common with the runner wings for assisting in defining the rectangular configuration of the collapsed umbrella, said handle having base portions laterally of said stem for receiving dome rib tips thereat, said stem having a polyangular outer surface including laterally converging angular facets for camming the dome rib tips toward said base portions, said well being polygonal in outer cross section and including transverse end walls having upper edges upon which said runner wings rest, opposed sides extending above said transverse end walls in an arc originating from said end walls and defining a transverse notch through which said wings will project with arcuate margins diverging therefrom. 